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Thoughts of a Christian Aid Collector
Christian Aid Week 2014 We have just come to the end of the annual Christian Aid week, and all over the country collectors will be tearing open red envelopes, spilling out coins and plucking out paper...
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A Chinese Legend
The Noble Bamboo In the church, we have just celebrated Ascension, when the risen Christ traditionally ascends to heaven, having been crucified on the Easter cross. Ahead, we look forward to...
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One Race
I have a dream – Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous ‘I have dream speech’ was delivered on the 28th August 1963 in Washington, D.C. at the height of tensions surrounding racial...
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Consolation and Desolation
Light and Shadow together Consolation and Desolation… two words that I came across during a Spirituality Day recently held in college. In relation to Ignatian Spirituality they are used to help us...
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V Is For Vulnerable
Detail from Gentle Spring by Frederick Sandys (1829-1904) For someone who keeps a lot of their deepest emotions well hidden, I hesitate to write this. Yet, whilst I don’t believe it is my nature to be...
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Let Them Eat Cake!
The Opulence of Versaille I suspect that most of us have heard the phrase ‘Let them eat cake’ and would hazard a good guess that we know who is supposed to have uttered those words. They have become...
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One Year And Counting
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 I received a notification last week to congratulate me on the one year anniversary of my blog. One whole year of sharing a journey with those who...
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When Is A Toilet Not A Toilet?
Can all members of the public use the Public Conveniences? You may well be asking what has a question about toilets got to do with ordination training? Yet it has turned out recently to be the most...
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Shining Through The Glass
Detail of the Transfiguration Window at St John the Evangelist, Hedge End One of the most beautiful and interesting crafts is that of creating stained glass. Over the years I have visited a great...
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Of Being Challenged
We are challenged to look beyond what we think we already know The last few days have been particularly challenging, both in terms of my personal response to events that have happened and reflections...
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On A Midnight Train From Georgia
Baptism of Christ Icon – written by Tamara Rigishvili To be honest I don’t know if it really was put on the midnight train, or any train for that matter. Maybe it came by plane or postal van, but...
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A Life In Books
A life in books I was recently asked to list ten book that had had an influence on my life. It’s not as easy as you might think, in fact rather than simply being able to dash off a list each one I...
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Roman Reflections – Supersize Faith
The Altar Canopy or Baldacchino, St Peter’s Basilica, Rome The first of a series of reflections following a visit to Rome to discover its links with the early Christian church and the church as it is...
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Sant’Egidio – An Example of Cheerful Giving
Comunità di Sant’Egidio The second in a series of reflections following a visit to Rome to discover its links with the early Christian church and the church as it is today Up until a month ago I had...
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Within and Without
The interior of St Paul Without the Walls, Rome The third in a series of reflections following a visit to Rome to discover its links with the early Christian church and the church as it is today I...
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Trip Advisor * * * * * The City Of Rome
THE Italian Ice Cream shop – Della Palma – Gelato di Roma This final reflection on my visit to Rome provides an overall review of the trip, highlighting some of my thoughts of which I have already...
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Let’s Talk About Money
Generous Giving I was recently asked to preach a sermon on giving. Not that our giving isn’t already generous in so many ways, but from time to time it’s useful to be reminded not only why we need to...
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Death, Dying and Bereavement
Death, Dying and Bereavement Not the cheeriest subject for this time of year – or any time of the year really, but a weekend’s training, curtailed somewhat into an intensive one-day session due to an...
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He Sang A Love Song To The Earth
The watching and waiting are nearly over As Advent draws to a close and the Advent calendar chocolates are nearly all eaten, we approach the climax to our Christmastide celebrations. We’ve watched and...
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The Holy Innocents In The Shadow Of The Cross
The Holy Innocents by William Charles Thomas Dobson The Festival of the Holy Innocents is never an easy day on which to preach; its subject matter can be unsettling and difficult to broach. However,...
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